MovieChat Forums > No One Lives (2013) Discussion > They Need More Movies Like This

They Need More Movies Like This

posted 11 years ago by cyguration
51 replies | jump to latest

Finally, someone got it right.

I'll be keeping my eye on the director and writer of this film.

I've been scouring the internet movie databases for a horror/thriller where there's like a killer/monster/whatever versus a band of bad@sses or hardened criminals. Only a few of these kind of movies seem to be made and they're really hard to find.

There was a terrible flick with Michael Biehn (spelling?) and his wife that was similar to this, and of course, there was Predators where a group of bad@sses were pitted against hunting space aliens but Predators sucked monkey butt.

Anyway, No One Lives was a little overly gory for my tastes (yeah, I'm a noob who would prefer cutaway scenes, so what?) and the movie (especially at the end) reeked of low-budgetness, but man was Luke Evans awesome and so was the premise.

I just wish there were more movies where the psycho-killer is challenged by other hardened criminal types as opposed to always preying on school girls or whatever.

Definitely recommended for anyone looking for something different in a horror movie that isn't a typical Cabin in the Woods trope (no offense to the original Evil Dead movies).

[–] eric_m_bi 11 years ago

You and I have similar tastes, cyguration. If you like these types of movies, try these:

The Final (a group of bullied high school students prepare a cabin in the woods where they will scar the bullies who preyed on them for life)

Orphan (Isabelle Fuhrman gives an outstanding performance as Esther, an orphan who happens to be a serial killer, and you may find yourself siding with her more often than with the main protagonist)

Carrie (2013) (Upcoming film based on the Stephen King novel where a lonely, abused high school girl discovers she has the gift of telekinesis, but when she is pushed too far by her religiously abusive mom and the bullies at school, her wondrous gift will turn into a nightmarish weapon that will change the world forever)

Let Me In (Based on the bestselling book, Let The Right One In, and the 2008 film of the same name, this movie tells the story of a boy who is a victim of constant bullying and is undergoing a difficult time with his parents' divorce. During this dark time, however, he meets a girl who is unlike any he has met; she teaches him the value of standing up for yourself and gives him what nobody else has, confidence and courage. However, there is something strange about this girl; she is rarely seen at all and she only comes out at night, and during the boy's darkest hour, it will be she who descends on those who have come to victimize him.)

Silent Hill (Based on the popular video game series of the same name, this movie is about a mother, Rose, who enters a ghost town with her daughter in the hopes of solving the constant night terrors of the latter; the moment they enter, however, things go wrong and the daughter goes missing. Rose soon comes to learn that their arrival was part of a much greater plan for revenge and retribution for a horrendous act performed decades ago.)
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When you're done with the film, go to this site; http://silenthill.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Silent_Hill_(film)_Monsters and look up the symbolism for the film's adaptation of these characters (NOT the game's) for more information about the deeper themes they embody.

[–] cyguration 11 years ago

Haha, yeah we do have similar tastes.

I've seen all those films except for The Final and Carrie. Thanks for the suggestions, I'm gonna check those one out.

I also loved Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning, it has that same horror vibe to it but with some sick twists (sick in a good way, mind you, not the SAW or Hostel kind... although it is gory).

There were a few other movies I thought really nailed the sort of bad guy vs bad guy horror theme but my mind has gone blank right now.

EDIT: Oh yeah, now I remember... it was the Night Breed! Man that was awesome. A serial killer versus monsters versus corrupt cops. Pure awesome!

[–] eric_m_bi 11 years ago

If you liked the films I suggested then you may also like Mama; it's a ghost story that came out earlier this year and got quite a number of good reviews. Like the previous films I mentioned, it blurs the line between good and evil, but the story's theme revolves around redemption rather than retribution; it is one of my favorite films of all time ranking among what I consider to be the masterpieces posted above. If you're watching it for the first time, keep in mind that it's meant to be a gothic fairy tale of which style is really prominent at the beginning and end.

Mama Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZlY47eCdas

[–] thunderpants16 11 years ago

WTF???? Mama has nothing to with this. And masterpiece? you're nuts!

The Baytown Outlaws is similar to this.

[–] PaOwen 11 years ago

Heh...yeah, I wouldn't really mention Mama as something similar to this, but it does have some good revenge moments where Mama protects the kids, like the opening sequence.

[–] ContessaDeMonteCristo 11 years ago

Try The Perfect Host with David Hyde Pierce; not as gory but the same premise.

[–] scaderemade 10 years ago

the perfect host was hysterical...he played it sooo well but its one you have to give it time to develop...for a thin man he plays a great bad guy-ish

of my mind
'' I don't know what's in there, but it's weird and it's pissed off''

[–] Batmans_Striking_Coach 11 years ago

Just watched "You're Next". Badass and FUN movie, very much in the style of film you described.

[–] cyguration 11 years ago

You know, I really want to see that movie. It's definitely on my "To Watch" list.

[–] The_Rascal_Multitude 11 years ago

It's not a whole movie based on that concept, but there's a spectacular individual scene with the premise you're looking for in a South Korean film called "I Saw The Devil". A couple of robbers/murderers try to mess with the wrong hitchhiker...

The man who cannot visualize a horse galloping on a tomato is an idiot - Andre Breton

[–] cyguration 11 years ago

Dude, you have no idea how much I debate with myself whether or not I should watch that film. Whenever I look up movies that one is always on the list but I don't know... I hear it gets pretty, I don't know, some say "gory" others say "intense". I think the common word used is "hardcore".

It definitely seemed interesting but I'm not into the Hostel/SAW stuff.

[–] Batmans_Striking_Coach 11 years ago

Watch it! It is gory, but it's not explotative like Hostel/Saw IMO. It has brutal moments, but it's not being done to an "innocent" person, and he does have a fighting chance... It's just the protagonist keeps one upping him haha

[–] cyguration 11 years ago

Ah, you got me... I gave in and watched it. That movie was superb even though it really did push some boundaries.

Actually, I almost liked the concept more than No One Lives. I've been dying to see a movie like this, but it was borderline too gory for my tastes (I've become more squeamish as I've gotten older) but the concept was just superb.

Secret agent trained to kill versus a killer psychopath. Also, I know exactly what you meant about the one scene -- in the house with the other psychopaths. That was brilliant and awesome.

The constant shift and change of the movie's flow while staying well paced was brilliant.

I also forgot about The Man From Nowhere, which was a more tamed version of No One Lives (just up until the end with that vicious but awesome hack-and-slash knife scene).

[–] censure360 11 years ago

I second I saw the devil... though that isn't a correct synopsis.

[–] afnakfanfnskejfnsfsn 11 years ago

This is a movie that does something new, giving a face to the killer. Unlike most horror/thriller/slasher movies where the killer hides in the shadow, wearing a mask, in this movie we get to see the point of view of how a psychopath thinks.

[–] Poetist 11 years ago

That's very true. I didn't think of that.

[–] cyguration 11 years ago

Well, technically, we get to see and visualize Freddy Krueger, but he just wasn't that interesting a character. For the killers that don't hide, like Norman Bates or Chucky, usually they're not facing off against threats that you care about.

I did really like the original Predator for mixing it up by having a super bada$$ alien going against super bada$$ commandos... and we got to see his face.

[–] JudgeNotLestYeBeJudgeReinhold 7 years ago

Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006) is one that gives you a look at the killer. An in-depth look for sure. Great movie if you like slashers, sort of in the same vein as Scream. Here's its IMDb page:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0437857/?mode=desktop&ref_=m_ft_dsk

[–] b-wilson91 11 years ago

Agree. Quality movie a must see for all horror/thriller fans!

Go the Sydney Swans!!!

[–] ttandb 10 years ago

They definitely do; it was so nice to have film with a proper story and some unusual angles on it. It was incredibly gory, but in such an overdone way that I didn't really flinch....except for one particular scene. Overall I loved it; so much I bought the film. as you say, it's nice to finally escape the usual cabin in woods, unsuspecting idiots captured. Of course Luke Wilson was scarily good; and his character definitely left you wondering at the end.....

with luck this writer and director get together for more movies like this one; I'd definitely watch them. Especially if Adelaide Clemens and Luke Wilson played the leads again.

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If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried..- Anonymous

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[–] ilykyu 10 years ago

Strange, no one bought up The Collector, which feels like a No-one Lives to me but with Saw elements. The entire Dexter series is about evil vs evil. Frailty, Eden Lake, Born Killers, Bleeding House, Hunger, are good to decentish flicks. Then there's Baghead, Ginger Snaps, Attack the Block, Splinter and Cockneys vs Zombies which are semi-comedies/creature features.

"what is your major malfunction numbnuts?!!"

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] AceRoccola 10 years ago

I love The Collector. Never been a fan of the SAW franchise, but I loved the premise of the film and the protagonist was a huge improvement over the usual hapless family/horny teenagers.

An average horror movie would have just been the family being killed by The Collector. Rinse and repeat. That seems to be the norm lately, given the popularity of torture porn and home invasion. But adding Arkin into the mix changes the formula, and it's almost as if two different films run into eachother. And the fight scene at the end is just excellent.

Great villain, too. Those shots of Arkin sneaking around the house trying to avoid The Collector early on are really well done. The film reminded me of a slasher version of Alien in the way that it uses the dark house as a claustrophobic nightmare space with a monster lurking in every crevice.

[–] MadRotaryOne_DDCgod 10 years ago

Agreed. When I first saw the title, I was like I never heard of this movie, so I didn't think much of it. Then when I started watching it, I too thought it was clever in its use of camera action. Arkin would sneak around, then you would get to see the trap, and how the trip was set up. Those glassy eyes of the Collector where creepy as well. IIRC, you never get to see what he looks like without the mask. I have seen where someone describes the 2 movies, the first one and its sequel as exactly that, Alien as the first, being claustrophobic and dark, and the sequel being more of the action/horror set up. Nicely done. This movie, 'No One Lives', is also pretty slick.

[–] rka211 10 years ago

The Collector is one of my favorite horror movies! I love the whole baddie vs. baddie premise. The movie was done so well, that I didn't even realize there was a good chunk of the movie (nearly 40 min) with almost no dialogue. It's great, really creepy.

I also enjoyed No One Lives. The horror film industry definitely needs to make more movies with the evil vs. more evil premise.

[–] cyguration 9 years ago

Those are some interesting flicks.

I did particularly like Ginger Snaps Back. The Collector/The Collection weren't bad for what they were trying to do. I'm curious if there will be a third one.

I really, really liked the movie Splinter. For a low-budget flick it was pretty cool.

I suppose The Chaser (2008) could also fit the list: Violent ex-cop turned sleazy pimp chases down a serial killer.

I did like Attack the Block, that was slick. I'll need to check out Baghead and Cockneys vs Zombies, as well as a few others on your list. Never heard of Bleeding House or Eden Lake.

[–] ilykyu 9 years ago

Lol, you're really serious about this sub, sub-genre aren't you. Well, I would dare say Botched, with actor Stephen Dorff, is The Collector's funky, smelly uncle, and The People Under The Stairs is it's creepy but whacked out grandfather. You'll see the how they're all kinda related lmao.
I recently saw V/H/S (a seriously underrated anthology movie with a couple evil vs evil segments, part 2 is out and is a must watch for me), and I just remembered Haute Tension and it's crazy twist ending, as well as the early 90's movies People under The Stairs (which seems strangely similar to Botched, and the Collector ), and Coldblooded(not horror but thrilling mob related evil vs evil nonetheless, kinda similar to Thief but James Caan is too relatable to be called evil). Tucker and Dale vs Evil (horror-comedy), The Revenant and Raze all have seemingly very questionable protagonists though maybe never so far as to be evil. Antichrist is not for everyone to say the least, very artsy and disturbing though not in the usual horror ways. But my favourite recently seen film, since my last post, has to be Red State, pretty good and not seen enough job by Kevin Smith.

Depending on your views on economics, Attack on Wall Street might be also be categorized as evil vs evil lol, though that's action not horror.

"what is your major malfunction, numbnuts?

[–] cyguration 9 years ago

Lol, you're really serious about this sub, sub-genre aren't you.

It's crazy but an evil-vs-evil sub, sub-genre isn't the easiest thing to find when categorizing or looking for movies. So funnily enough I dip back into this thread to see what people have suggested; some truly great films have popped up in here.

Never heard of Botched, but I am a fan of Stephen Dorff, so I might check that out.

People Under The Stairs... ah, a classic. Still remember that from way back when you could rent the VHS. And speaking of V/H/S... I've kind of steered clear because it seemed like it may have been a bit more gore than thrills, however I am tempted to see it because I think the guy who did The Raid did one of the short films in the anthology?

Coldblooded? I'll probably add it to my watchlist.

And Revenant... ha, I'm surprised that wasn't mentioned earlier. It does kind of fit the evil vs evil theme; reminded me of Return of the Living Dead 3. It set itself up for a sequel but I doubt it'll ever arrive.

Don't remember the movie Raze, so I'll likely add that to the list.

Antichrist... ha, I've heard PLENTY about that one. Kind of steered cleared with the whole clit-cutting thing, heh.

And yeah, I've seen both Red State and Attack on Wall Street. Red State really took me by surprise because it felt like it was going to be another torture porn SAW flick, but it wasn't. Really good film. Attack on Wall Street was also pretty decent... Uwe Boll actually trying to make good films. Heh.

While they're not horror by a long shot, I suppose the Outrage films from Takeshi Kitano could fit the evil-vs-evil bill.

Thanks for the suggestions, though. I'll definitely give some of those a looksy.

EDIT: Just looked up the info on the movie Botched. Now THAT sounds like my kind of movie. Definitely going to give that one a shot.

[–] tommix42 9 years ago

When you put it like that, "Evil vs. Evil," it made me think of the scene near the end of Dune, in which little Alia goes up against the diabolical Reverend Mother of the Bene Gesserit, mindlock against mindlock. At that moment, of course, the viewers are completely on the side of Alia, but the Reverend Mother sort of had a good point... Alia WAS an abomination, as it turned out, (although she sort of gets some redemption, later on, if you read enough of the Dune books).

For Grave Encounters... I'm Lance Preston.